Heart disease remains a significant health concern in the United States, affecting about 30 million individuals and leading to more than 647,000 deaths per year. The good news? Technology and advances in medical science continue to improve the outcome for individuals diagnosed with heart disease.
Highly rated for their medical skill and expertise, the specialists at Premier Cardiology Consultants, serving residents throughout the New York City metropolitan area, provide a wide range of services that include highly detailed studies like the MUGA scan to accurately diagnose and effectively treat heart disease.
Read more about the MUGA scan from our team here at Premier Cardiology Consultants and what this noninvasive study can reveal about your heart function.
Pronounced like “mug” with a short “a” at the end, the MUGA scan uses high-tech imaging to produce a video that helps your Primary Cardiology specialist evaluate your heart function. It’s a noninvasive test that specifically measures your ejection fraction, which reveals how much blood your heart is pumping to your head, abdomen, arms, legs, etc. with each contraction.
We use the MUGA scan to screen for details regarding abnormal heart function that may be related to:
We may also recommend a MUGA scan to check your heart health/function before you begin chemotherapy and/or to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments you’re undergoing for heart failure, etc.
The MUGA scan delivers a much more detailed and accurate view of your heart function than what’s possible with a standard echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to provide an ultrasound image or “echo” of your heart muscle in action.
During a MUGA scan, you lie comfortably on an exam table with a gamma camera positioned above your body. The camera tracks the blood flow through your heart, which is illuminated by a chemical substance known as a tracer that’s delivered via an intravenous (IV) line. The camera creates a computer-generated video that your specialist uses to help determine how well your heart is pumping.
You can expect very mild discomfort as the IV is inserted, but the test is otherwise painless and typically very well tolerated by most individuals.
For outstanding cardiac care that’s delivered in a friendly, patient-focused environment, call Premier Cardiology Consultants at any of our locations, or schedule your appointment online today.
